Laura Åkerlund

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Laura Åkerlund (born 1987 in Helsinki, Finland)[1] is a Finnish opera stage director and pianist.[2] She was a 2019 finalist for the position of Directrice Générale in the Opéra de Lyon[3][4][5] as well as a 2021 finalist for the position in the Opéra National de Bordeaux.[6]

Biography[edit]

Åkerlund started her piano lessons at the age of six, and continued her studies privately and at the Helsinki Conservatory. She later graduated from the Helsinki University with a Master’s degree in Musicology. She also studied Opera Stage Directing at Sibelius-Academy, Theater Studies at Freie Universität Berlin, Management and International Business at Aalto University. She is multilingual (Finnish, English, Swedish, German, French).[7]

Since 2007 she has assisted several opera stage directors such as Peter Sellars, Kirill Serebrennikov, Calixto Bieito, David Bösch, Tilman Hecker, Erik Söderblom, Johanna Freundlich, Vilppu Kiljunen in Finland, Sweden, Germany, England notably at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Komische Oper Berlin, Oper Stuttgart, Bayerische Staatsoper[8], Helsinki Festival, Baltic Sea Festival, Grimeborn Festival for New Opera. Her own stage directions are 2011 Musica Nova Festival with „Himmerrä ja Valo“ composed by Finnish composer Heta Aho[9], Musical “Aallonharjalla” 2011, “Eugen Onegin” in St. Petersburg 2015 which won the Best Directors award, and Moniuszko’s opera “Halka” in 2018[10] and Aulis Sallinen opera "The Red Line" in Kemi.[11][12][13]

Founder and director of the newest opera house in Finland, Comic Opera Helsinki (Helsingin Koominen Ooppera), which is inspired by the innovative tradition of Opéra Comique Paris as well Komische Oper Berlin.[14][15][16][17] The aim of the opera house is to present opera for new audiences that are not regular operagoers, and to do experimental productions in unusual locations. The Comic Opera Helsinki produced the first immersive opera ever to be performed in Finland 2017 “Vixen” a co-production between Silent Opera (UK) and Helsinki Festival that was realised in an old train station.[18][19] In years 2019—2020 she was a member of the executive team and Head of Dramaturgy at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe Germany.[20][21][22] Jury member of Academy for theatre and digitality at the Theater Dortmund Germany in 2020—2023.[23]

Stage director[edit]

  • 2011: Heta Aho: Himmerrä ja Valo, Musica Nova Helsinki.
  • 2011: Musical: Aallonharjalla. Malmitalo, Helsinki.
  • 2015: Verdi: La Traviata. The 3rd International Music Festival Putikon Hovi. Winner in following categories: Best stage direction, best leading performance
  • 2015: Pjotr Tšaikovski: Eugen Onegin. St. Petersburg and Punkaharju Finland.
  • 2018: Stanisław Moniuszko: Halka. Helsinki Opera Festival, Comic Opera Helsinki (Helsingin Koominen Ooppera).
  • 2018: Aulis Sallinen: The Red Line. Kemi City Orchestra.

Assistant stage director and stage manager[edit]

  • 2006: Haydn: L’Isola disabitata. Finnish Chamber Opera. Assistant stage director and Stage Manager.
  • 2006: Aulis Sallinen: the Red Line, Fredrik Pacius: Kung Karls Jakt & Tchaikovsky: Eugen Onegin. Stage director trainee, Finnish National Opera.
  • 2007: Ilkka Kuusisto: Risto Ryti - vapauden vanki. Production assistant, Finnish Chamber Opera.
  • 2007: Seppo Pohjola: Kaksi kamarioopperaa rakkaudesta. Assistant stage director, Stage Manager. Helsinki festival & Turun Musiikkijuhlat.
  • 2008: Händel: Acis ja Galatea. Assistant Stage director and Stage Manager. Finnish Chamber Opera. Stage director Vilppu Kiljunen.
  • 2009: Haydn: Il mondo della luna. Assistant stage director. Kulttuuritalo Gloria. Stage director Ville Saukkonen.
  • 2009: Gustav Holst: The Planets. Stage Manager, video art live coordinator. Helsingin Juhlaviikot. Helsinki City Orchestra, conductor John Storgårds. Video artist Petri Ruikka.
  • 2012: Richard Wagner: Tristan ja Isolde. Assistant Stage Manager. Helsinki Festival (Helsingin Juhlaviikot) & Baltic Sea Festival Stockholm. RSO, conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. Stage director Peter Sellars.
  • 2013: Mozart: Don Giovanni. Assistant stage director and stage manager. New Generation Opera, Helsinki Festival (Helsingin Juhlaviikot). Stage director Erik Söderblom.
  • 2013: Miika Hyytiäinen: La Figure de la Terre. Assistant Stage director and Stage Manager. Sophiensaele Berlin. Stage director Jaakko Nousiainen.
  • 2014: Miika Hyytiäinen: Aikainen 3D Opera. Grimeborn Festival for New Opera, London. Stage director Jaakko Nousiainen.
  • 2014: Birke J. Bertelsmeier: Querelle. Deutsche Oper Berlin. Stage director Tilman Hecker.
  • 2015: Richard Strauss: Salome. Stage director Kirill Serebrennikov. Oper Stuttgart. Richard Ayres: Peter Pan.
  • 2015: Seppo Pohjola: Harrbådan neito & Sibelius: Neito tornissa. Assistant stage direction and Stage Manager. Stage director Aku-Petteri Pahkamäki. West Coast Kokkola Opera (Kokkolan Oopperakesä).
  • 2015: Puccini: Gianni Schicci & Béla Bartók: Herzog Blaubarts Burg. Komische Oper Berlin. Stage director Calixto Bieito.
  • 2016: Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Stage director David Bösch. Fromental-Halévy: La Juive. Stage director Calixto Bieito. Bayerische Staatsoper.
  • 2016: Heinz-Juhani Hoffmann: Ahti Karjalainen : elämä, Kekkonen ja teot. Reprise direction, stage director Juha Hurme. West Coast Kokkola Opera (Kokkolan Oopperakesä).

Jury member[edit]

TV work[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Taulavuori, Riitta. "Ooppera tuo agitaation Kemiin - Punaisen viivan teemat ovat ohjaajan mukaan edelleen ajankohtaisia". Kaleva (in Finnish). Kaleva Media. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  2. ^ Tilli, Inari. "Interview with Laura Åkerlund (in Finnish)". Yle Kantapöytä. Yle. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  3. ^ Anastasio, Sofia (2019-10-04). "Dernière ligne droite pour le choix du futur directeur de l'Opéra de Lyon". Musiques – Actualité musicale. Radio France. France Musique. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  4. ^ Broquet, Sébastien (2019-10-22). "Richard Brunel est le nouveau directeur de l'Opéra de Lyon". Le petit Bulletin. Petit Bulletin. Agence Tintamarre Lyon. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  5. ^ Capron, Stéphane (2019-10-03). "Qui pour diriger l'Opéra de Lyon ?". Sceneweb.fr. Sceneweb. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. ^ Hondermarck, Maximilien (2021-04-19). "Natalie Dessay n'est plus dans la course à l'Opéra de Bordeaux". Forumopera. Forumopera - Le magasin du monde lyrique. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  7. ^ "Laura Åkerlund, Executive producer, Stage director | Æviágrip". Operabase (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  8. ^ Tarpila, Laila (2016-03-23). "Intomielinen nuori ohjaaja Laura Åkerlund matkaa töihin Baijerin valtionoopperaan ja kertoo Euroopan kuumat oopperavinkit". Helsingin Sanomat. yle.fi/klassinen. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  9. ^ Lampila, Hannu-Ilari (2011-02-08). "Säveltäjätytön mielenmaisema". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  10. ^ Hautsalo, Liisamaija. "Kulttuuritalossa kuultiin kelpo matkalaukkuversio oopperaharvinaisuudesta, joka on myös puolalaisten kansallinen symboli". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  11. ^ Nuutinen-Kallio, Taina (2018-03-21). "Punainen viiva on suuri merilappilainen voimainponnistus – oopperaa alueellamme on tarjolla harvoin". Lapin kansa. Kaleva Media. Kaleva Media. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  12. ^ Koskinen, Risto (2017-10-04). "Kemissä esitettävän Punainen viiva -oopperan laulajat julkistettiin". Yle Uutiset. Yle Uutiset. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  13. ^ Koskinen, Risto (2017-05-23). "Punainen viiva -ooppera esitetään ensi vuonna Kemin Tervahallilla – mukaan etsitään paikallisia laulajia". Yle Uutiset. Yle Uutiset. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  14. ^ HS, Kulttuuri Lyhyesti (2016-09-16). "Helsingin koominen ooppera aloittaa Punahilkalla". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  15. ^ Puukangas, Suvi (2016-09-07). "Puheen Iltapäivä: Koomisen Oopperan johtaja: "Diivojen aika on ohi"". Yle Radio. Yle Radio. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  16. ^ Mattila, Mattias (2016-08-08). "Suomi sai uuden oopperatalon – aikoo uudistaa käsityksen oopperasta". Yle Uutiset. Yle Uutiset. Yle. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  17. ^ Kytöharju, Marjo (2016-12-12). "Koomisen oopperan kintereillä". Kirkko ja kaupunki. K&k-media. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  18. ^ Tiikkaja, Samuli (2017-08-18). "Klassikko-oopperan ovelasta ketusta tuli koditon tyttö, jota yleisö seuraa läpi esitystilan". Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma Finland. Sanoma Finland. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  19. ^ Kuusisaari, Harri (2017-08-19). "Arvio: Ennenkokematon oopperakonsepti on Juhlaviikkojen parasta antia". Rondo-lehti. Rondo-lehti. Rondo-lehti. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  20. ^ Meldungen (27 May 2019). "Karlsruher Chefdramaturg Jan Linders geht nach Berlin". Nachtkritik.de. Nachtkritik.de.
  21. ^ Wagner, Jo. "NEUSTRUKTURIERUNG DER KÜNSTLERISCHEN LEITUNG DES STAATSTHEATERS KARLSRUHE Jan Linders geht, Laura Åkerlund kommt". Wochenblatt-reporter.de. Wochenblatt Karlsruhe. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Staatstheater Karlsruhe: Finnin Laura Åkerlund neue Chefdramaturgin". No. 28.05.2019. Die Rheinpfalz.
  23. ^ "Theater Digital". Akademie Theater und Digitalität. Theater Dortmund.


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